Adjustable Strength Magnetic Strap System for Athletic Training

ABSTRACT

An adjustable strength magnetic strap system for athletic training. Two straps, one for each opposing appendage, can be readily secured by wrapping them around and tightening them using hook and loop fastener material to an arm or leg in one or more locations. The adjustable straps are further defined by one or more pockets that can be used to retain one or more different strength magnets in the sealed assorted pouches. The various magnets can be combined together, providing for multiple hold strengths. The straps can also be using in combination with various attachments to expand use options, such as a thigh extension strap/wrist extension and a strap/arm-neck extension strap.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS:

This application claims priority from U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/559,975, entitled “Adjustable Strength Magnetic Strap System for Athletic Training”, filed on Sep. 18, 2017. The benefit under 35 USC § 119(e) of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to sports equipment. More specifically, the present invention relates a device for maintaining the wrists, arms, legs, and ankles in a together position during sports training.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many devices for assisting athletes maintain a desired form with respect to hand, arm, elbow, foot, knee, ankle, and legs are well known. Many devices have been developed to assign athletes in perfecting various bat and club swings, as well as balance by leg/foot spacing in an athletic stance or in a first step motion.

However, there are no known devices when it comes to gymnastics training, which requires the gymnast/athlete to engage in the different movements and series of movements required of the sport, which are unique to gymnastics training.

Therefore, what is needed is a device that assist a gymnast in keeping their feet together, which also allowing them a free range of motion when desired to complete other movements or to engage in a series of movements as part of a full or partial routine during practice, without a need to continually to attached and remove the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention an adjustable strength magnetic strap system for athletic training. The device is comprised of two straps, one for each opposing appendage, where they can be readily secured by wrapping them around and tightening them using hook and loop fastener material to an arm or leg in one or more locations.

The system of components can be used in multiple different ways for training acrobatic, gymnastics, dance, and cheerleading skills.

The adjustable straps are further defined by one or more pockets that can be used to retain one or more different strength magnets in the sealed assorted pouches. The various magnets can be combined together, providing for multiple hold strengths.

The straps can also be using in combination with various attachments to expand use options, such as a thigh extension strap/wrist extension and a strap/arm-neck extension strap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein a form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.

FIG. 1 is a picture of the adjustable straps being worn and secured to the ankle location of a wearer in a hips width apart foot position.

FIG. 2 is a picture of the adjustable straps being worn and secured to the ankle location of a wearer in an ankles together foot position, where the magnets provide an attraction force to assist the wearer in keeping their ankles and feet together during sports practice.

FIG. 3 is a picture of the prototype adjustable straps showing the hook and loop fastener system and magnetic pockets.

FIG. 4 is a picture of the prototype adjustable straps showing the contact side of the straps with a wearer's body.

FIG. 5 is a picture of two magnet pouches that are used to cover the magnets and make insertion and removal into the magnet pockets on the adjustable straps easier.

FIG. 6 is a picture of three pairs of magnet pouches that are used to cover the magnets, and provide a differentiation among punches of varying magnetic strength as well as making insertion and removal into the magnet pockets on the adjustable straps easier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the invention of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings (where like numbers represent like elements), which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, but other embodiments may be utilized and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it is understood that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Referring to the figures, it is possible to see the various major elements constituting the apparatus of the present invention.

Now referring to Figures, the embodiments of the adjustable strength magnetic strap system for athletic training are illustrated. The device is comprised of two straps 101 and 102, one for each opposing appendage, where they can be readily secured by wrapping them around and tightening them using hook and loop fastener material to an arm or leg in one or more locations. FIG. 3 is a picture of the adjustable straps showing the hook and loop fastener system 103, 104, 107, and 108 and magnetic pockets 105 and 106.

FIG. 4 is a picture of the prototype adjustable straps 101 and 102 showing the contact side of the straps with a wearer's body. The opposite side of the hook and loop fastener material 109 and 110 is soft and contains minimal seems so as to be as comfortable for the wearer as possible.

FIG. 1 is a picture of the adjustable straps 101 and 102 being worn and secured to the ankle location of a wearer in a hips width apart foot position. FIG. 2 is a picture of the adjustable straps 101 and 102 being worn and secured to the ankle location of a wearer in an ankles together foot position.

The magnets 111 and 112 provide an attraction force to assist the wearer in keeping their ankles and feet together during sports practice. While being worn, the attractive magnetic force of the magnetics 111 and 112 retained within the pockets 105 and 106 of the adjustable straps 101 and 102 keeps the wearer's feet together, while making it more difficult, but not impossible for the wearer to separate their feet during use.

During a typical gymnastic routing, it is desired for the gymnast to keep their feet together. The device of the present invention allows a coach to adjust the amount of tension, or here, magnetic attraction force, to help train a gymnast to keep their feet together. Different magnets 113, 114, 115, 116, 117 and 118, of varying magnetic strengths, as shown in FIG. 6., can be used in the pockets 105 and 106 of the of the adjustable straps 101 and 102 to provide different attractive forces in an effort to help a gymnast keep their feet together.

FIG. 5 is a picture of two magnet pouches 119 and 120 that are used to cover the magnets and make insertion and removal into the magnet pockets 105 and 106 on the adjustable straps 101 and 120 easier. The adjustable pockets 105 and 106 and pouches 105 and 106 with various strength magnets enables this adjustment, and also allows for a controlled reduction in assistance from the device, reducing the amount of magnetic force and assistance until a gymnast can perform the routine or movement while keeping their legs together without any assistance from the training device.

FIG. 6 is a picture of three pairs of magnet pouches 113 and 114, 115 and 116, and 117 and 118 that are used to cover the magnets, and provide a differentiation, typically by using matching colored pouches for matching magnetic strengths, among punches of varying magnetic strength as well as making insertion and removal into the magnet pockets 105 and 106 on the adjustable straps 101 and 102 easier.

The system of components can be used in multiple different ways for training acrobatic, gymnastics, dance, diving, and cheerleading skills.

The adjustable straps 101 and 102 are further defined by one or more pockets 105 and 106 that can be used to retain one or more different strength magnets in the sealed assorted pouches 113-118. The various magnets 113-118 can be combined together, providing for multiple hold strengths.

The straps 101 and 102 can also be using in combination with various attachments to expand use options, such as a thigh extension strap/wrist extension and a strap/arm-neck extension strap. In another embodiment, the present invention is used in combination with an adjustable length extension strap for connecting for expanding the main straps to fit around thighs.

Thus, it is appreciated that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variation in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the above description are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Furthermore, other areas of art may benefit from this method and adjustments to the design are anticipated. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. An adjustable strength magnetic strap device for athletic training comprising: two straps, one for each opposing appendage; the straps further comprised of: hook and loop fastener material on opposing ends, and one or more pockets for removeably retaining one or more magnets; wherein the two straps can be readily secured by wrapping them around and tightening them using hook and loop fastener material to an arm or leg in one or more locations.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustable straps are further defined by one or more pockets that can be used to retain one or more different strength magnets in the sealed assorted pouches.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the different strength magnets can be combined together, providing for multiple hold strengths.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the pockets are sealed.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the straps are used in combination with a thigh extension strap.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the straps are used in combination with a wrist extension strap.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the straps are used in combination with an arm-neck extension strap. 